Author Topic: Looking after your new bike - what do you do? (Read 3551 times)

SteelD · « **on:** April 22, 2007, 05:10:22 AM »

I plan to protect my new bike from day one. So, I plan to give the bike a good coating of ACF-50 and I am wondering about coating every exposed bolt, nut and bracket with clear lacquer. What would you use? Somebody suggested clear nail varnish to me and another said dope as used for model aircraft. Any suggestions?

Thanks

David

solman · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2007, 06:35:19 AM »

I started out new and just do the routine maintence. If something is bad, replace it.

SteelD · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2007, 07:46:36 AM »

Quote from: "solman"

I started out new and just do the routine maintence. If something is bad, replace it.

That's what I am doing now - replacing the whole bike. I ride all year round and the salt put down on winter roads in the UK really rots the alloy. That's why I asked my question.

Red01 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2007, 10:16:54 AM »

I'd never heard of ACF-50 before, so I did a seach for it. Sounds like it is similar to LPS-3 (at least in function). I noticed on the site they say:

Quote from: "ACF-50 site"

ACF-50 is qualified under Mil-C- 81309, Amendement 3, Type II. It also meets the performance requirements of BMS 3-23E, CSD#1, DMS 2150, and TN A 007.10138.

Since I work at Boeing and BMS 3-23 is a Boeing specification, I looked it up. The "E" on the end represents the revision level of the spec. Boeing's been at Revision G since Sept 1999. I looked on the list of approved suppliers and this product is not listed, so it seems they no longer qualify. Now, I'm not trying to say the stuff isn't any good because of this. I have no idea why they no longer qualify.

Red01 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2007, 10:23:52 AM »

AhHa! I think I just found out why it doesn't meet Boeing spec anymore. I found this on LondonBikers.com:

Quote from: "LondonBikers.com"

When applied liberally, ACF-50 forms an 'Active' ultra-thin clear film that will kill any existing corrosion cells and will protect your pride and joy against new corrosion from starting.

The clearness is what would've killed it from Boeing's spec. Boeing requires the stuff needs to be visibly detectable to the unaided eye. The suff used today all leaves a brown film.

SteelD · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2007, 10:40:09 AM »

Whether Boeing use it or not, it does sound like a good move for a new bike. I want to keep this bike in good shape. The only trouble is that, as the bike is new, Suzuki don't list huggers or fenda extendas for it yet and the rest of the third-party accessory market has yet to catch up.

Red01 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2007, 11:17:56 AM »

Yes, it does sound like good stuff!

I was just checking up on their claim to meet Boeing spec. Unfortunately, I can't easily look up one that's obsolete.
Given your riding conditions, I'd probably use something like that, too. Lucky for me, they don't salt our roads. They use sand on the roads and some kind of earth friendly anti-freeze spray on bridges. And I don't do a lot of winter riding

As for the fenda extenda & belly pan, Banditmania has a listing for the FendaExtenda for the '07, and theirbellypan page lists several that fit all years of Bandits.

SteelD · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2007, 11:23:55 AM »

Many thanks Paul - I'll check them out.

David

ZenMan · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2007, 12:43:10 PM »

Quote from: "Red01"

As for the fenda extenda & belly pan, Banditmania has a listing for the FendaExtenda for the '07, and theirbellypan page lists several that fit all years of Bandits.

That's a good link on the FendaExtenda but the bellypans listed are all for the 1200. The 1250 has a completely different engine and exhaust system and the '06 belly pans and lower fairings do not fit. Neither does the TCP lower fairings, as I contacted them and they confirmed thru email that it will not fit the '07.

I took my muffler off yesterday and the header pipe has a built-in catylitic converter behind the collector, it's a larger diameter section about 10" long. This along with the larger down-tubes and different engine mounts, plus the wider radiator makes the '06 bodywork completely different.

I suppose some belly pans would fit if you modified them, but who knows how much cutting or fabricating would be required. The complete lowers are pretty much out of the question just because of the radiator alone.

Suzuki is supposed to be coming out with lowers for the B1250 later this year, I'm not sure who will be making them yet.

Red01 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2007, 10:19:33 PM »

I remember you contacting TCP about the lowers... but they already had at least a prototype then because it was already on the bike show bike. TCP still doesn't show a listing on their site for the '07's, so either they haven't updated their site or Banditmania is in error or jumping the gun listing lowers for the '07.
(IMHO, the one they show on the '06 is butt ugly to me.)

On the bellypan, maybe Banditmania doesn't have a picture of it on the '07 yet but from their News page:

Quote from: "Banditmania"

Hot Off The Press!! You'll Hear About It Here First!

April 2007 - GSF1250 Single High Level and Single Standard Level with Can now available. Stainless starts at £155.00 incl. **
BELLYPANS AND HUGGERS NOW IN STOCK

March 2007 - Gsf1250 Water Cooled Bandit. What a machine this has turned out to be!! With sales through the roof already and customer feedback just as high this could just be the bike of the year!! Accessories available to buy now are...Standard, Flip and Double Bubble Screens (coloured or tinted), Headlamp Covers, Mirror Spacers, Front Indicator Conversion (Blocks the hole and puts the indicator in the side light!, Fenda Extenda, Renthal Bars (pre-drilled if reqd), Anodised Lever Sets, Mastercylinder Covers, Top Yoke Covers, Filler Cap Covers, Handlebar clamps, Grips, Engine Bolt Kits, Seat Covers, Clear Tail Light (bulb or LED), Sports Rack, Givi Luggage Systems, Anodised Rear Sprockets, Rear Hugger, Laser Cut Chainguard, Undertray, Jack up kits, Brake Line Kits.

Coming very soon ..... Exhaust System Complete, Can and Intermediate pipe, Twin High Levels, Twin Low levels, Bellypans, Radiator Cover. All these will hopefully be only 4-6 weeks. To order call us on 01522 871600 while we add all the items to the site.

ZenMan · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2007, 01:56:41 AM »

Yeah, TCP wasn't real helpful except to inform me that Suzuki would have lowers for the B1250 soon... they didn't indicate that it was TCP that would be making them.

If they look like the '06 lowers I don't think I'll bite. But the ones on the silver B650 in the top right pic of your "bellypans" link look pretty cool. Kinda radical but I think they'd look good in black with the silver engine behind. I also liked the lowers on the red bike-show B1250 we've seen here.

I think 'd rather get the lowers from SuMoCo for the paint match... yeah, it's gloss black but it has blue flakes in it. I'd want a perfect match of course.

I don't like the way the BanditMania site is set up... too hard to see pics and get specific info. And being in the U.K. I wonder about shipping costs and the long wait. Have you ordered from them before?

They did have some exhaust stuff... I definitely want to lose the catalytic converter on mine, the O2 sensor is located right in front of it, and right behind the collector. I have a good Hobart MIG and stainless wire, I'll probably be doing my own exhaust mods and use an aftermarket can. The mid-pipe O.D. is big... looks like 2 1/2".

That big can weighs at least 25 lbs.!

CWO4GUNNER · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2007, 02:12:15 AM »

ZenMan · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2007, 02:17:00 AM »

Quote from: "SteelD"

Whether Boeing use it or not, it does sound like a good move for a new bike. I want to keep this bike in good shape. The only trouble is that, as the bike is new, Suzuki don't list huggers or fenda extendas for it yet and the rest of the third-party accessory market has yet to catch up.

Yeah, bud, having a new model like the B1250 has it's downside as far as the aftermarket goes, aye? We'll see how long it takes some of these companies to start putting stuff out there for us.

You know, as far as using a coating to resist corrosion, I've found some of the products for automobile wheels work pretty good... the wipe-on protective stuff they have for polished aluminum, magnesium, an even chrome wheels do a pretty decent job without leaving a sticky or hard-dried goo on there. I can't think of the brand names just now, but I know Mothers makes some corrosion-resistant stuff that works ok. Just have to re-apply it whenever you wash your bike.

I never had to deal with salt-water much though, so maybe you need some tougher stuff... that ACF-50 sounds pretty good I guess...

Red01 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2007, 02:28:46 PM »

I have not ordered from Banditmania, but I have ordered directly from NWS and they're in the UK - and one of the outfits that supplies products to Banditmania. I ordered my FendaExtenda and footpeg jackup plates from them when they were having a sale (made it much cheaper than buying from anywhere else I could find). Based on what I've heard from others, shipping from UK or other European countries varies wildly, as does shipping costs. My own personal experience with NWS and Thunderbike in Germany was both of them were reasonably quick. NWS had the stuff to my door in less than a week and it was about two weeks for Thunderbike to ship my undertray. Shipping costs with both outfits was very close in price to what I had expected to pay if I'd have ordered from a US vendor.

tannerismyhero · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2007, 06:22:04 PM »

Quote from: "Red01"

Yes, it does sound like good stuff!
I was just checking up on their claim to meet Boeing spec. Unfortunately, I can't easily look up one that's obsolete.
Given your riding conditions, I'd probably use something like that, too. Lucky for me, they don't salt our roads. They use sand on the roads and some kind of earth friendly anti-freeze spray on bridges. And I don't do a lot of winter riding

HA HA EARTH FRIENDLY!! That is funny. Darn left coasters. Here in Iowa we salt the hell outta everything....Oh...wait....salt is a natural occuring element. OMG We are eco friendly.... Gas the hell outta all the roads to melt the ice!! Sorry Red, I know you are a man about the wild outdoors having the Jeep and all. And you seem to have your head on straight. How do you tolerate the over the top hippies out there?